Electric switch



1943. J. R. CALDWELL ETAL I 2,334,313

ELECTRIC SWITCH Filed March 9, 1942 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 1943. J. R. CALDWELL ET AL 2,334,313

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

Filed March 9 1942 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 3 I INVENTORS I 4 John E- Ca/a/we/ h l///am Gussow Nov. 16, 1943. .1. R. CALDWELL ETAL 2,334,313

ELECTRIC SWITCH Filed March 9, 1942 5- Sheets-Sheet 3 IN NTOEZ Nov. 16, 1943. .1. R. CALDWELL ET AL 2,334,313

ELECTRIC SWITCH Filed March 9, 1942 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTORS k/o/m E (a/a'we/l \g/A'am 6055014 5% /Y W 1943. J. R. CALDWELL ET AL 2,334,313

ELECTRIC SWITCH v \i X Y 45 iii:

Patented Nov. 16, 1943 min'gham, Ala;, assignorsto" Southern States a Equipment Corporation,a'corporation of Ala;-

1 Application March; 9, lsia s'eiia No. isassi if fvjolaims. (encore-48') This invention relates to switches of high ampere capacity with small-area high-pressure contacts at each end of the swing arm. some of the purposes are to provide a switch without any I carryl hingear rn [3 of the ma in swing arm; A pair cf spaced contacts l4 M are fixed to"the bars 1,1 I, which are partly supported by the pressure unit l5fl while still havinga limited lateral .flexibilityfji'Ihebars H, n are'held by,

the bearingwhich suppo ts crank 9, and at B they are also held by'the' main line bus bars l6. The hinge-arm l3 carriesthe pivots l| and I8. Pivot 11 supports the'clevised operating-link 19 whose upper end is pivotally connected by pin 19? to therocker 2 fl 'whose lower end is pivoted to the 'top oi insulator 2 by pin 2|. Operating- IS carries pins 22 and 23; pivot 18 carries links 24', 24 with pins Hand 26; pins 22 and carry the reciprocating contact 21 to. which are secured the bars 28, 28 which form the outside members of the switch swing arm. Pins 23 and which our invention is, embodied. fliig. 1 isa side 'view c'f a siniglepole unit, severalof which may be used'to' form a imultiple pole switch. Fig. 2

shows in larger scale a side view 10f theoperating members at the "hinge end of thefswing arm; Fig. 3 isfsimilar-to Fig. l but shows one switch "unit in open position; Fig. eshows in leirgerscale the hinge side of the switch in open position;

Fig5'5 shows a'plan oi the'hinge and'the arm members just afterfth'efopening motion has started? Fig. 6 shows resid n e the jaws and i the end of the switcharm as opening motion,

begins; Fig. 7 is a plan-view of the vmembers shown in :Fig. 6; Fig. B'shOWsa plan view of the swing arm similar to Figs. 5 and '7, but without showing: the adjacent supporting and contact members; Figs. 9 and 10 show, respectively, the

jaw and 'hinge contact membersin plan View, without the swin'g arm; Fig. 111 shows in partial section the unit which gives the heavy-pressure spring action at the switch contacts; Fig. 2 shows the members infully closed positions; Figs. 5,- 6 and 7-show the members just as opening motions have-started, with the links 24 and 40 in vertical position and the contact projections Sf, 32, 36 and 31 just released from the'twopairs of spaced contacts I 4 and 35.

A base! supportsf two' stationary insulators 2; 3 and arotative insulator: unit 4 to which is connectedthe 'crank 5 for operat ing insulator 4 and for interconnection. with other similar units to forma' multipole switch, At 6 and I connections are made between the main line conductors and the switch' terminals The-bearing 8 supports the rotative insulatonunit, to which is secured the crank 9, which h'o ldsone endoffthe connecting bar ID. The sidebars 'l I; II and the pivot 23 carry the reciprocating contact 29 towhich are secured the bars 30, 30 forming the inner members of the switch swingarm, Projections 3|, 3|. on reciprocating contact 21 touch the'two spacedcontacts M, 14 so that 21 bridges the spaced contacts. l4, M. In a similar way reciprocating contact29 through its projections 32, 32 bridges the same spaced contacts. M l4. Thus two small areacontacts are made against each of thespacedcontacts-l4, l4;

' The jaw contacts of the switchjare similar and the various members function'in asimilar way.

.Bars33, 33. aresupported by arm 34. Spaced contacts 35, 35 are integralwith bars 33, 33 and they arej engageable by projections 33, 36 and 31, 3'Lon reciprocating contacts 33 and 33, respectively. Reciprocating contact sags terminal for bars 28, 28, and reciprocating contact 39 terminates bars 30, 33, Links 40 and pivots 4|,f4l movablybonnect reciprocating contacts 38 and 39. If the swing arm, as shown in Figures 4 and 8, is consideredwithout reference to other meme bers; it]wi1lj be seen that if the hinge-arm l3 remains vstationary' while the operating-link I 9 is rockedibackjand'forth about itspivot H, the pins 22 and 23 will move the reciprocating contacts2l and 29 in opposite directions and this will cause 'thetwo sets of contactprojections, 3l-- 32, 3I- -32,and 36-31, 36-31; alternatelyto approach oneanother and then to separate. And

simultaneously the projections 36, 36 and 31, 31 'onreciprocating com-amen and 39;, respectively,

alternately approach one another and then separates. p f p V The pressure unit i5 is shown in Figure ll. fihe base 42 is pivoted at 43 and carries two inwardly facing cups 44.44 in each of which is a spring 45 which presses the pin Mitowards the 2 Si. bar ll. Pin 45 fits movably into a recess'in the bar I I. The spring 45 has preferably initial compression from the screws 41, and a limited possible expansion; and the bars II, II preferably have a slight outward bias, so that the pins 46 tend to remain in their recesses in bars II, and yet the bars i I under heavy pressure can expand slightly "an'd ;thereby compres's the springs 45, without causing permanent distortion toan-y members. ment. Unit 15 is similar to unit I5. I

Operation is as follows:

Figure 2 shows the members in closed position.

Screws 48 provide means for adjust- Rotation of insulator 4 causeslrod iii to pull arm 20 in counter-clockwise rotation, andpin l 9'.fo'llows the arc A, which is inscribed about the centen I 2|, to position marked l9B. While 19' travels through the space C the center-lines 21- 49 and spread outwardly or draw inwardly but they do not move longitudinally of the switch arm, for all necessary longitudinal motion is made by the I reciprocating contacts and the projections upon if desired,-to balanceftlie weight cffthe switch swing arm. sleet covers may be-added to protect the various movable members if this should be 'wanted; and various adjustments are provided for convenience in assembling the switch.

If desired, the double spring contacts may be replaced .by rigidicontacts each of which is' clamped upon opposite sides by the two recipro- I cating contact members of the swing arm, with- I out causing any wiping action. Also other additionsor modifications may readily be made by lT-l 9' are close together and the arc DD,which is inscribed about the center ll, substantially" coincides with thearc A; and .so the operating ii? is merely rotated about it-spivot I] while the main switch .swing arm .remain s stationary. While-the operating-link leis moving over space-C in a counter clock wise direction from .the fully closed position, the pins .22 and '23 move reciprocating contacts 2.! and29 inopposite directions, making projections 31 and.32fmove simultaneously away from spaced contacts I4, 14, ".At ,the same timeand in a similar way spaced con.- ;tacts' 35,35 are released from the contact'pressure-exerted upon them by projections 3 36 and 31,131.: Further travel .of pivot 19' from space C towards position I QB exerts upward pressure, through operating-link ,I Q .and pivot .l i, upon the hinge-arm t3, ,which is thereby 'raisedvuntilthe whole: switch swing arm reaches the .fully open position shownin'Figures l3 and l. n Thus the entire switch swing arm is moved .as .a unitar ound mam .fromclosedto open ,position.- This swing arm includes members 13, 21, 28,129, SH, 36, 31,

p company, when the switch is being .closed the swingarm comes down .toh'orizo'ntal position by the-time pin 13 'reachesthe space C.' Reciprocatingcontacts 2.1 and ,2 9. are between spaced contacts M}, 14 and: reciprocatinglcontacts 3B and 69 are; between spaced contacts 35, 35. Further travel lof 'pin .1 6', over .sipaceC forces projections 5.1.31 .and 32,32 towards-one .an'othenbringing the projections against the bevelled suriiacesof 4 spaced contacts M, iii. .Travel is short and the.

leverage is great, so that whenall members are properly proportioned there is .a heavy wedging cifect exerted by the projections against the spaced contacts J 4, iawmcn are thereby spread slightly against the pressure of the springs 45. Thus ioursm'all-area high pressure wiping con-- tacts are established .and pressures voffseve'ral hundred pounds are developed between the separable current carrying areas. At the same time.

the projections 36,.35and131, .3] .sin'iilarly'engage spacedcontacts 3.5,..35' andspreadthe bars 33, 33 slightly against the springs .in .unit 15f, developing ffc'ursimilar high pressure contacts at the jaw-endofthe switch. I .Th.e'.high pressures @thus madejare developed .by the-pins '22 and 23 which force each .pair of reciprocating contacts, 21-49 and Bil- 39, .towardsfone another. The links 24 and 4D guide and coordinate the two movableportions of the switch swingarm but ido'not .either increase or I l t "1' 1,. In an electric switch, two spaced insulated one familiar with the art, without, departing from the purpose and spirit of this invention.

supports, a relatively stationary pair of spaced contacts j mounted upon one .of said supports, ,a swing arm ,pivotally mounted upon .thesesond offsaid supports. .and movable intoand iout of' contact with the said spaced contactsto cperatc the switch; the said swing .arm including a-recip.

.rocating contact movablalbngitudinflly, of the swing to bridge -the said spaced contacts, and second reciprocating .contact movable simultaneously .but in .theopposite direction to bridge the same spaced contacts.

2; Injan electric switch, two spaced insulated supports, .a relatively stationary pair of spaced contacts mounted upon the first of esaidsupports,

a swing arm mountedaboutan axis on the second of said supports and movable int and out of engagement with" the said spaced Contact; to

operate. the switch; the said swing .arm including %a reciprocating contact --movable-.,longitudinall -y o the win m to bridge the said spaced ,con-- tacts, a second reciprocating contact movable simultaneously. but in the*oppositedirection to bridge thesame spaced contacts-, a simultaneously operable secondv pair of ,reciprocating' contacfs adjacent the said axis; together, with a second ,pair of..spaced. contacts {mounted upon thesaid second support and cooper-able with the said;

second pair of reciprocating contacts.

1 3.111 .an electric switch, two spaced insulated. supports, .arelativel-y stationary forked pair 0f,

contacts mounted uponthe first of said supports,

a swing arm mounted upon the second"of-;said supports and movable intoand out of contact" with the. said forked contacts .tdpperate the switch; .thesaid swing arm includinga recipro veating contact movable longitudinally, of -thg swing-arm to engageboth of the said .forked;con tacts and wedge .them apart,- anda second reciprocating contact movable simultaneouslyin the I opposite direction to engage thesa me saidjonked contacts and wedge them apart f a .4. In an electric .switch, two spaced insulated supports, a relatively stationaryapair of spaced contacts mounted. uponthe first .of saidsupports,

contacts, and a second reciprocating contact movable simultaneouslybut inthe opposite direc-v spaced contacts. 5. In an electric switch, two spaced insulate supports, a relatively stationary contact member mounted upon one support, a hinge-arm swingably mounted about afstationary axis upon the other support and carrying a pair of reciprocating contacts which are both conductively engageable with the said contact member, an operating-link pivotally mounted on the hinge-arm and pivotally connected with the said two reciprocating contacts to move them in opposite directions; together with a rocker pivotally mounted upon the said other support on a stationary pivot remote from the said stationary axis, a pivot connecting the said rocker and the said operating-' link, and means to move therocker to operate the switch.

6. In an electric switch, a relatively stationary contact, an insulated support spaced from the said contact, a swing arm structure mounted the said operating-link upon the swing arm structure; together with a rocker mounted upon the said support on a stationary pivot remote from the said axis, a pivot connecting the said rocker with the said operating-link, and means to move the rocker to operate the switch.

'7. In an electric switch, two spaced insulated supports, a relatively stationary pair of spaced of said supports and'movable into and out of about a stationary axis upon the said support contact with the said spaced contacts to operate the switch; the said swing arm including a reciprocating contactmovable longitudinally of the swing arm to bridge the said spaced contacts, and a second reciprocating contact movable simultaneously but in the opposite direction to bridge the same spaced contacts, an operating- 7 link pivotally mounted upon the hinge-arm and pivotally connected with the two said reciproeating contacts to move them in opposite directions; together with a rocker pivotally mounted ,upon the said second support on a stationary pivot remote from the said stationary axis, a pivot connecting the said rocker and the said operating-link, and means to move the rocker to operate the switch.

JOHN R. CALDWELL. WILLIAM A. GUssoW. 

